Beginner tank owner here! I've been researching for weeks and after a failed fishless cycle I've finally taken my LFS's recommendation of a fish-in cycle with some hardier platys.
I bought three, and all males, as their advice and some on trusted local websites suggested it would reduce aggression to not have females present (and I didn't want breeding). They've since been constantly chasing each other, which fish is the most aggressive one and snapping at the others has changed over the week and a half I've had them, but they're still going at it.
I've researched like crazy to figure out community tank mate options (ideally I'd like at least three species at different levels), wanting a peaceful tank… but no one can agree on what fish species are actually peaceful! I've wanted to add albino cherry barbs next, but some people say they are not actually peaceful despite every website telling me otherwise (even read a comment this morning to the tune of "who told you they are peaceful?"), and that they're actually really bad fin nippers. I've looked at panda corys, but some resources are telling me they bully each other to death??
I feel like tearing my hair out over this!! Can anyone actually definitively say what are good hardy peaceful fish types and combinations for beginners, or does it all come down to individual fish personalities and luck? I don't want to add fish to a tank if it's just going to torment them, but YEESH.
Posted by loribell27